Temu bidet thing

[opps]

Hi all.

A pub mate has asked me to fix a weeping drip on a Temu set up installed by a plumber.

I told my pub mate that, in my lay experience, the retrofit bidet thing is not legal because there is no non-return valve. He is happy for me to fit one.



The leak is where the male chrome part meets the brass coupler. The water is weeping through the Loctite 55 on the brass coupler. The 90 degree brass fitting has a flat face which looks like it should have a rubber washer. The coupler has no way of accepting a washer (or series of washers stuck together).

In the interim period I removed the chrome fitting and fitted the flexi pipe.

The temu part is male threaded, There is nothing to grip to wind it into the female coupler.

I accept that people will tell me that the concept is wrong- to that end, I would like a recommendation for a non return vavle.

Ultimately, I want a female to female fitting which will not leak under preseeure.

Advice would be apprciated.

 

[oldbuffer]

1. I would dispute that was installed by a plumber - PTFE tape on threads!!
2. They contravene water regulations as they have no backflow prevention.
3. No non-return valve is rated for backflow prevention for use with fluid category 5. (Which includes toilets).
4. If you want to eliminate leakage replace the compression 90 degree elbow and that adaptor with a brass wallplate. They also do not seal with a washer, but you have one fewer joint to leak.
5. If you use a liquid PTFE such as Flomasta Joint Seal (Screwfix item 4373J) you should be able to achieve a leak free seal and a suitable orientation of the chrome part. If using, make sure both male and female threads are scrupulously clean, and in particular free of grease.

 

[Madrab]

There are no fittings available that would allow anything like that to be connected to the mains water in the UK and comply with the Water regs.

Not sure your 'pub mate' understand what could happen if that device was contaminated from the toilet and then that water back flowed into his drinking water. In essence he and his family could be drinking bacteria from fecal matter. Not even worth thinking about.
I've been asked countless time to install ablution devices onto the toilet mains water supply, haven't fitted one yet. They really shouldn't be allowed to be sold unless they are supplied in a kit that provides the correct backflow protection.

It infuriates me when a certain demographic want to follow certain habits/rituals but aren't willing to pay the price that ensures it doesn't affect anyone else.

 

[fixitflav]

I would dispute that was installed by a plumber - PTFE tape on threads!!

I know it's not the only option, but what's wrong with PTFE tape on threads?

 

[steven lee]

On that joint the real issue is what oldbuffer said. Tape and Loctite 55 are for tapered threads, not for a flat face that should have a washer, and on a parallel thread they can actually hold the joint off square so it keeps weeping. I would get a female to female brass elbow or union with proper flat washers either side and make sure the faces are clean and square. Do not heave on it either, those thin chrome fittings distort if you overtighten them.

 

[fixitflav]

On that joint the real issue is what oldbuffer said. Tape and Loctite 55 are for tapered threads, not for a flat face that should have a washer, and on a parallel thread they can actually hold the joint off square so it keeps weeping. I would get a female to female brass elbow or union with proper flat washers either side and make sure the faces are clean and square. Do not heave on it either, those thin chrome fittings distort if you overtighten them.

OK, they could be parallel threads. Could still get a seal with (plenty of) tape, or compound. In a situation where the fitted part has to be at a definite angle, sealing on the thread likely to be necessary (though that doesn't apply in this case).

 

[opps]

1. I would dispute that was installed by a plumber - PTFE tape on threads!!
2. They contravene water regulations as they have no backflow prevention.
3. No non-return valve is rated for backflow prevention for use with fluid category 5. (Which includes toilets).
4. If you want to eliminate leakage replace the compression 90 degree elbow and that adaptor with a brass wallplate. They also do not seal with a washer, but you have one fewer joint to leak.
5. If you use a liquid PTFE such as Flomasta Joint Seal (Screwfix item 4373J) you should be able to achieve a leak free seal and a suitable orientation of the chrome part. If using, make sure both male and female threads are scrupulously clean, and in particular free of grease.

Many thanks.



I will order a wallplate and a double check isolating valve

I omitted to mention that the chrome part has no obvious way of tightening the male thread which goes into the coupler in the image above (see the red section). The chrome nut at the bottom of the image is free spinning. The sticky up arm for the "douche" head is heId upright with two o-rings (so you can't twist the arm to tighten the fitting). I had hoped that there would be an allen key fitting to wind the chrome male fitting into the female fitting.

I do have a thin pair of "mole grips", about 6-7mm wide. I can probably wind it in by about 12mm without scratching the flat part of the chrome. Will the liquid PTFE suffice?

I take onboard what you say about cat 5 fluids. I guess you mean that potentially someone could drop it into the bottom of the pan. Other than fitting a double check valve, I will see if I can move the hose/flex so that it cannot fall into the water in the pan.

Again, thanks for your help.

 

[oldbuffer]

1. A check valve, whether single or double, is NOT a permissible anti-backflow device for category 5 fluid.
2. Contamination can occur in ways other than dropping the head in the pan.
3. You might want it, but it contravenes the Water Regulations. Do you have more knowledge or experience than those who drew up the regulations?
4. If the device is attached to a mains supply, you have the potential to cause contamination of your neighbour's water supply, not just your own. I understand the penalties are quite severe.

 

[denso13]

Hi all.

A pub mate has asked me to fix a weeping drip on a Temu set up installed by a plumber.

I told my pub mate that, in my lay experience, the retrofit bidet thing is not legal because there is no non-return valve. He is happy for me to fit one.

View attachment 424821

The leak is where the male chrome part meets the brass coupler. The water is weeping through the Loctite 55 on the brass coupler. The 90 degree brass fitting has a flat face which looks like it should have a rubber washer. The coupler has no way of accepting a washer (or series of washers stuck together).

In the interim period I removed the chrome fitting and fitted the flexi pipe.

The temu part is male threaded, There is nothing to grip to wind it into the female coupler.

I accept that people will tell me that the concept is wrong- to that end, I would like a recommendation for a non return vavle.

Ultimately, I want a female to female fitting which will not leak under preseeure.

Advice would be apprciated.

Simple fix really, disconnect the elbow here, or preferably nearer the source,

Fit one of these,

Carefully remove the attachment and find one of these,

Job done,

 

[dilalio]

It infuriates me when a certain demographic want to follow certain habits/rituals but aren't willing to pay the price that ensures it doesn't affect anyone else.

Shall we say there are many places in the world where drinking water is drawn from the same source as sewage is disposed!

And we shouldn't have that here, but culture creep tends to be detrimental.

 

[opps]

It infuriates me when a certain demographic want to follow certain habits/rituals but aren't willing to pay the price that ensures it doesn't affect anyone else.

He is a British born, as is his missus. Neither are followers of the third abrahamic faith.

1. A check valve, whether single or double, is NOT a permissible anti-backflow device for category 5 fluid.
2. Contamination can occur in ways other than dropping the head in the pan.
3. You might want it, but it contravenes the Water Regulations. Do you have more knowledge or experience than those who drew up the regulations?
4. If the device is attached to a mains supply, you have the potential to cause contamination of your neighbour's water supply, not just your own. I understand the penalties are quite severe.

I really do get what you are saying. Ultimately, if I don't sort it out, they will get someone else to (as they previously did). I hope that fitting a double check valve will be better than nothing.

 

[dilalio]

He is a British born, as is his missus. Neither are followers of the third abrahamic faith.



I really do get what you are saying. Ultimately, if I don't sort it out, they will get someone else to (as they previously did). I hope that fitting a double check valve will be better than nothing.

DCV is no barrier to bacteria.

 

[denso13]

He is a British born, as is his missus. Neither are followers of the third abrahamic faith.



I really do get what you are saying. Ultimately, if I don't sort it out, they will get someone else to (as they previously did). I hope that fitting a double check valve will be better than nothing.

Marginally better than nothing but an illegal installation none the less.

 

[flameport]

Ultimately, if I don't sort it out, they will get someone else to (as they previously did).

In that case, leave it for someone else to make alterations to an illegal install.

 

[mattylad]

Despite all the objections because of it being an illegal installation because there are no air gapped tanks supplying it, how likely is it that it gets dropped in the loo and there is potential contamination?

A big fuss over nothing.

I have one too, it's great for washing down the big sink I have when it gets full of little hairs after a shave etc.

Fix the leak and move on, no matter what you do your mate is going to use one, there are thousands of them installed in houses in the U.K.